With the holidays approaching, you may be wondering what to get your friends and family.
Instead of trying to think of something out of the box, sometimes, the most appreciated gifts are the most practical! While the best gift would be to receive an all-expenses-paid cruise vacation, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts that the cruisers in your life will love just as much.
Many cruise gifts can be reused, too. From luggage tags to packing cubes, waterproof phones, portable chargers, and other onboard essentials, here's a list of the best cruise gifts to give your favorite traveler.
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Packing cubes
I'll admit that I wasn't convinced about the hype over packing cubes until my partner gifted me a set of Away packing cubes for Christmas a few years ago.
Since then, they've become one of my favorite travel essentials. Not only do they keep all my clothing organized, but they make unpacking in my cruise cabin a breeze.
This set of packing cubes is highly rated and affordable. It has over 36,000 4 and 5-star reviews and comes with eight different cubes in various sizes for clothing, cosmetics, shoes, undergarments, and more.
Passport cover
Although passports are not required for all cruise vacations, many travelers prefer to travel with one. They make international travel smoother and provide more flexibility in case of unexpected emergencies.
Plus, traveling with a passport on a cruise often means you don't have to wait in lengthy customs & immigration lines during disembarkation.
I've been using a passport cover for years. It keeps my passport organized at home and on the go. Mine also doubles as a wallet, holding airline tickets, cash, and credit cards, which makes navigating the airport so much easier.
Here are a few different options that combine style and functionality (yes, some double as a wallet!):
- Melsbrinna Premium Leather Passport Holder with Wallet
- Passport Cover With Card Slots RFID Blocking
- Hsxnam Passport and Vaccine Card Holder Combo
Towel clips
Even after being on over 30 cruises, I somehow always manage to forget my towel clips at home. It isn't until a windy sea or beach day that I realize my mistake and have to get creative to keep my towel from flying off the chair.
Towel clips work by clipping the towel directly to the pool chair, keeping it in place no matter how breezy the lido deck is.
They're lightweight and easy to pack. Plus, they are relatively inexpensive and can be used for future vacations, such as a trip to the beach or your local pool!
Kindle
Although (in my opinion) nothing compares to turning the pages of a hardcover book, they're heavy and expensive, Kindles are great purchases for the bookworm in your life.
They're lightweight, portable, and can hold thousands of books, so it is possible to carry an entire library without taking up valuable luggage space.
The flush-front design and glare-free display mean that reading is easy, even in bright sunlight on the ship’s top deck.
Sunscreen
Onboard pricing for necessities, ranging from over-the-counter medication to sunscreen, is higher than your local drugstore.
Once, I was forced to pay $17 for a single bottle of sunscreen at a cruise line's private island; there was no way I could spend the day in The Bahamas without sun protection!
As such, you should always bring more sunscreen than you think you will need. Even if you aren't cruising anytime soon, it's a practical gift for those heading to places like The Bahamas, Caribbean, and Mediterranean.
Consider a two-pack of Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50, available for under $15 on Amazon. If your gift recipient prefers lotion, a 12oz bottle of Banana Boat Sport Ultra SPF 50 lotion is another great option.
Aloe Vera gel
On the flip side, you may know someone who — no matter how hard they try — still ends up returning from vacation looking like they found their long-lost crustacean ancestors!
Aloe vera gel is a solid gift for cruisers because it helps soothe and moisturize the redness and dryness that accompany a nasty sunburn.
While it might not help the burn fade into a tan overnight, your cruiser won't be stuck inside for the rest of the trip!
Airtags
While many travelers worry about losing their luggage at the airport, cruise lines, though rarely, can also misplace suitcases.
AirTags have become a must-have item for many. They can efficiently track luggage, whether you're flying to visit family in another state or embarking on an epic cruise vacation.
They will enable your gift recipient to see if their suitcase is en route to the airport's baggage claim or if it's made it onto the ship yet!
Cruise line gift card
If all else fails, cruise line gift cards are a foolproof option. They're easy to purchase, send, and redeem, which is also great for the last-minute shopper.
The recipient can use the gift certificate on various add-ons, according to the terms and conditions of the card, ranging from drink packages to shore excursions, Wi-Fi, spa treatments, specialty meals, and more.
Some cruise lines even let guests redeem gift cards on the cruise fare itself, meaning you can help your favorite traveler pay off their next vacation!
Luggage set
A new set of luggage is a great way to provide a practical gift if you want to give something a little more thoughtful than sunscreen or towel clips.
Pricing varies based on the brand and quality. If, for example, you're looking at high-end luggage, you could easily spend thousands on a set from Tumi or Rimowa.
However, there are plenty of affordable mid-range options. This 3-piece Coolife luggage set from Amazon comes in at under $180 and has over 27,900 4- and 5-star ratings, with many talking about the set's quality, value for money, and rollability.
Sunglasses
A cheap pair of sunglasses is a great gift for any traveler. That way, they don't have to worry about misplacing their expensive pair during a shore excursion or in the airport.
Ideally, you want to gift something lightweight and practical (i.e., skip the heart-shaped fashion glasses!). Think about their personality and pick a style that suits them — think classic wayfarer or aviator glasses.
Non-surge power strip
Extension cords and surge protectors are banned on many cruise lines, as plugging too many electrical items into a single outlet has the potential to start a fire. Oftentimes, if you try to bring an extension cord on board with you, it will be confiscated during check-in.
All hope isn't lost, though. The brand Cruise On sells a power strip that is cruise-compliant, so you do not have to worry about not having enough outlet space for all of your devices! It was designed not to have any messy wires or a surge protector. The device costs $24.99 and comes with three regular outlets and two USB ports.
Note that neither Disney Cruise Line nor Royal Caribbean approves this device.
3-in-1 Charger
Another option is to pack a Magsafe 3-in-one charger. Using just one outlet, the charger powers up to three devices at once, including iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods.
They fold up nice and small, too, so valuable luggage space isn't wasted, and you don't have to worry about cords getting tangled in your carry-on bag.
The Anker MagSafe Compatible 3-in-1 Charger has 15W charging capabilities, meaning it can power an iPhone 15 up to 20% in just 15 minutes and charge an Apple Watch Series 9 to 30% in only 22 minutes.
Silicone travel bottles
Just like with packing cubes, a good set of travel bottles can make traveling much easier.
Although cruise ships are often called floating hotels, they're pretty different. One key distinction is that most mainstream cruise lines don't provide complimentary toiletries in cabin bathrooms.
Since you won't find mini shampoo or conditioner bottles, all cruisers must come prepared with their own products — unless you want to be stuck using Royal Caribbean's two-in-one shampoo-body wash hybrid or Carnival's basic shower gel.
That's where travel bottles come in handy. A good set allows you to bring your favorite toiletries in TSA-friendly sizes that won't take up too much space in the tiny cruise bathroom.
Cruise door decorations
A lot of cruisers love to decorate their cabin doors to add personality to them. Plus, it makes finding your stateroom's door a lot easier!
You don't have to be celebrating anything in particular to join in on the fun, either. Earlier this year, I brought along some Easter-themed decorations for my spring break cruise on Icon of the Seas!
Here are some cruise door decoration ideas that you can gift:
- Drink Package Warning
- First-Time Cruisers
- Honeymoon
- Anniversary
- Birthday
- New Year's
- Valentine's Day
- Easter
- Just Because
- Graduation
Over-the-door storage organizer
Cruise cabins aren't known for being overly spacious. However, you might be surprised by their clever storage solutions. Still, over-packers and larger families have to get creative when it comes to keeping cruise staterooms organized.
That's why, as odd as it may seem, over-the-door shoe organizers are popular cruise essentials. They give cruisers more space in their cabins without having to cram things into drawers or shelves.
Beyond holding flip-flops and high heels, they’re perfect for storing sunscreen, toiletries, chargers, first-aid items, jewelry, hair accessories, and more.
Water bottle
Although all cruise lines include water in their base fares, the accessibility of water on a ship isn't always the most convenient.
Water stations can be found in venues like the buffet, but most travelers don't want to have to leave their cabins in the middle of the night for a small glass of water.
Bringing a reusable water bottle ensures you can stay hydrated without constantly hunting down a drink station or refilling tiny glasses.
Owala is a popular brand thanks to its leak-proof design, built-in straw, and FreeSip spout. The convenient carry loop also doubles as a lock.
Phone Tripod Stand Selfie Stick
Disconnecting on vacation is nice. However, you don't want to return home and realize that you didn't capture any memories with your loved ones.
Rather than awkwardly asking a stranger to take a photo during an excursion or on the pool deck, a tripod stand selfie stick easily lets you set up your phone at the desired angle and frame the shot perfectly.
Sea-bands
Unfortunately, sea sickness is a reality that many cruisers, first-timers or not, face while at sea. Even veteran sailors can feel queasy or dizzy when the ship encounters rough waters or high winds.
Sea-band anti-nausea acupressure bands help combat the negative side effects of motion sickness on a cruise by providing pressure to stimulate the P6, or Nei-Kuan, acupressure point, which is proven to relieve nausea and vomiting.
If you want to go above and beyond, other over-the-counter motion sickness medications will be appreciated, including Bonine, Dramamine, or behind-the-ear patches.
Binoculars
Binoculars are a must-have for cruise-goers traveling to Alaska. They are useful when trying to spot wildlife from the ship, as well as to just take in the scenery.
Compact Binoculars are ideal since they will not take up much space, which is already somewhat limited, considering that packing for a place like Alaska requires more thought than packing swimsuits for the Caribbean.
The Occer compact binoculars set is a popular choice, with over 27,400 4- and 5-star reviews praising the quality, value for money, functionality, ease of transport, and more. The binoculars have 12x magnification, a 25mm objective lens, and a wide field of view!
Dry bag
Combine a nice set of binoculars with a waterproof dry bag to set your Alaska cruiser up for success, as the Last Frontier is known for unpredictable weather conditions.
The HEETA Waterproof Dry Bag will ensure that all of their belongings stay safe while exploring ports of call.
Plus, a transparent dry bag makes it easy to locate items, meaning that they will not waste time rummaging through the bag.
Portable charger
A quality portable charger is always on my must-pack list for any cruise. They come in handy while ashore, but I've also used them onboard, especially on older ships where power outlets can be limited or inconveniently located near the vanity.
The key is to avoid packing a bulky portable charger. My favorite is the Anker Power Bank with PowerIQ Charging Technology. It's not too heavy, but it is powerful enough to charge an iPhone 15 two times!
I'm not alone, either. Over 98,400 people have given this portable charger a 4- and 5-star rating on Amazon, saying that it's a portable, high-quality product that offers excellent value for the price.
Magnetic hooks
Most cruise staterooms have magnetic walls, and an easy way to take advantage of this is by purchasing magnetic hooks to keep the cabin more organized and increase storage space. The hooks can be used to hang hats, wet swimsuits, jackets, cruise lanyards, or day bags.
Some people go as far as buying magnetic hooks with clips to keep important papers, such as disbursement documents, shore excursion tickets, and more, organized and accessible.
Lanyard
Most cruise lines provide passengers with a plastic cruise card that acts as the stateroom key, identification, and charge card for onboard purchases. This allows guests to leave their driver's licenses, credit cards, and cash securely in the cabin safe.
However, the cruise card should still be kept easily accessible — that’s where a lanyard comes in handy.
Nobody wants to waste time searching through a bottomless pool bag or digging through pockets when a bartender asks if they'd like a drink or when returning to their cabin.
Linked below are a few different cruise lanyard options. Some are relatively basic, while others have neat features that make them unlike options available onboard the ship for purchase:
- Cruise Lanyard for Ship Cards | 2 Pack Cruise Lanyards with ID Holder, Key Card Retractable Badge & Waterproof Ship Card Holders
- BIHRTC Key Ring Bracelet Car Keychain Holder Wristlet Silicone Women Beaded Bangle Chains
- FRIEQ Waterproof Phone Pouch Bag - 2 Pack with Lanyard
- Retractable Waterproof Lanyard with ID Badge Reel Holder
Rubber ducks
A popular cruising tradition is hiding ducks around the ship for other guests to find.
Often, they will have a small card attached to them that reveals the names of the people who hid them and where they are from. There are even Facebook groups with over 100,000 members who discuss duck hiding and see how far the ducks travel over time.
If you decide to gift rubber ducks, make sure that you explain the tradition in case the recipient is unaware of it!
Cruise luggage tags
Luggage tag holders ensure that baggage tags stay secure during transit, and when the cruiser gets to the terminal, they will not have to wait for a porter to staple a paper tag on or fill one out.
Cruise lines have differently sized bag tags, so it is important to purchase tag holders that are compatible with the cruise line.
For example, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity have thinner luggage tags, while lines like Carnival and Princess have wider ones:
- Luggage Tags for Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises
- Luggage Tags for Norwegian Cruise Line
- Luggage Tags for MSC Cruises
- Luggage Tags for Carnival, Princess, or Holland America Line
Night light
Those staying in an ocean view, balcony, or suite might not find this as useful, but if you know that an inside cabin was booked, surprise them with a night light!
Unless booked in a special category (i.e., virtual balcony or window facing the interior of the ship), those booked in an interior stateroom will not have access to natural light; the cabin will be pitch black when the lights are turned off.
And with the limited number of outlets available, it is best to get night lights that run on batteries or can be recharged.
Elizabeth Wright
Elizabeth graduated from New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute with her M.A. in Journalism in May 2023. Having sailed on over 30 cruises across different lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC, Margaritaville at Sea, and Princess, she loves sharing her insight and expertise on all things cruising!
In addition to writing for Cruise.Blog, Elizabeth has bylines in Business Insider, Royal Caribbean Blog, and Cruiseshipfood.com.
